Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Truth to Learn
There is eternal life giving power in the gospel message.
Behind the Words
The word “ashamed” is from the Greek epaischunomai, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” and aischunō, meaning “to be ashamed.” Hence, it means “to feel shame upon oneself.”
“Greek” is translated from hellēn, the word used to describe anyone from the Grecian peninsula. However, in the first century it was used in a generic sense of anyone who spoke the Greek language. And Jews of the first century, like Paul, referred to anyone who was not a Jew as a Greek (Gentile). This is the sense in which Paul uses the term in this verse.
Meaning Explained
Paul has been talking quite personally to the Roman Christians about his desire to see them and to give them a gift of great spiritual value. He has just told them that he is under debt to God to preach the gospel to all people. He now makes a subtle, albeit significant, turn in his message from one of introduction and consolation to one of open proclamation. Paul is just starting his sermon. Let’s listen carefully!
He says he was not bringing shame on himself by preaching the good news of Jesus. But why should anyone consider him to have been ashamed? Think about this: the Jews had cast Paul off, regarding him as an apostate. And by the wise among the Gentiles he had been persecuted, despised and driven from place to place, and regarded as the filth of the world. He had every reason to feel shamed. Nonetheless, he was not ashamed of the gospel.
Why was Paul so confident in his stand on the gospel? Because as he says here, “it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” The power in the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for your sins and mine, is the power of God Himself. God, who demands absolute righteousness from each of us, cannot accept us into His presence if our righteousness is any less than perfect. Since none of us is righteous in and of ourselves (Romans 3:10), we are condemned to eternal separation from God. Belief in the gospel, however, results in God crediting us with His righteousness. Hence, the gospel IS the power of God resulting in salvation to everyone who believes! Praise God!
Paul then goes on to say that this salvation was offered to the Jews first and then to the rest of the world, whom Paul refers to as Greeks. If you carefully read the book of Acts you will see that Peter and the other apostles focused their preaching entirely on the Jews, and Paul’s early ministry was to Jews. In whatever city he entered, Paul went first into the synagogues to deliver the gospel message to the Jews there. But because the Jews rejected His message, Paul then turned to the Gentiles.
Application
The power of God is packaged in a very simple message. We are all sinners; therefore, our righteousness falls short of God’s standard. Our sin and lack of righteousness earns us death (both physical and spiritual). But Jesus’ death pays our penalty, and we receive His righteousness when we accept His payment. Then, through God’s power we receive eternal life!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone 
(618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to: